Arts & Culture

Ballet: Coppelia

Cape Town City Ballet brings to life Coppelia, the story of a mysterious inventor, Doctor Coppelius, who makes a human-sized dancing doll so lifelike that Franz, a village swain, becomes infatuated with it.

He brushes aside his true heart's desire, Swanilda, who later shows him his folly by dressing as the doll and pretending to come to life. The ballet incorporates romance, intrigue and deception, transporting audiences to a world of fairy-tale magic. Laura Bosenberg and Thomas Thorne lead the company, with the role of Dr Coppélius taken in turn by two of South Africa’s greatest character artistes, Mervyn Williams and Johnny Bovang.